Chapter 3: The World of Romantic Comedy
In conclusion, this is undoubtedly the world of a romantic comedy.
I became certain of this when I witnessed a scene in the classroom that confirmed it.
It was the seat by the window at the back. A plain-looking male student with black hair was resting his cheek on his hand, looking out at the schoolyard with a gloomy expression. Next to him sat an unbelievably beautiful girl.
"Hey, Yorito-kun, are you free after school today?"
"Hmm? Oh, I don't have any plans."
"In that case, why don't we hang out after school? There's a place I'd like to go."
The girl with waist-length red hair, is pure and lovely, with such stunning features that everyone turned to look at her. Despite being addressed so familiarly by this beautiful girl, the boy next to her responded in a lethargic manner.
If that were all, it would seem like an ordinary scene from my own youth in the world I used to live in. However, this being a romantic comedy world, it didn't end there.
As the plain-looking boy and the red-haired girl talked, a twin-tailed girl with deep blue hair sitting in front turned around. She was also an extraordinarily beautiful girl with a cute, well-defined face.
"Hey, Yorito, you’re on cleaning duty this week, remember? Don't tell me you forgot."
"…Oh, sorry. I completely forgot."
"Good grief, get it together, will you? You've always been forgetful since we were kids. Don't forget today’s cleaning duty; it’s you and me."
The twin-tailed girl sighed in exasperation, likely an old childhood friend, while the plain-looking boy scratched his head apologetically. Just then, the classroom door slid open, revealing yet another astonishingly beautiful girl.
She had long, wavy blonde hair and eyes like jewels. She was so beautiful she looked like a foreigner.
She, too, approached the lethargic male student.
"Good Morning, Yorito-san. Have you considered joining the student council?"
"Ah, President. Sorry, I need more time to think about it."
"Let’s discuss it in the student council room after school. We need your help."
The plain-looking boy and the blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl conversed familiarly. Seeing this, the other beautiful girls began to express their jealousy. It was obvious that these girls had feelings for this boy.
But he didn’t notice at all. He wasn’t embarrassed or happy to be in front of these beautiful girls. On the contrary, he seemed to find it all a hassle.
The beautiful girl next to him with long red hair.
The cute, energetic childhood friend with twin tails.
The intelligent and beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed student council president.
A plain-looking male student surrounded by these beauties, sitting by the window in the farthest seat.
That dazzling scene was familiar to me, and I realized which romantic comedy world I had landed in.
(This really is the world of a romantic comedy… and it’s from that super popular rom-com, “Love Is a Battlefield”!)
"Love Is a Battlefield," which I call "Fusekoi," is a high school romantic comedy where a group of girls fall for the protagonist, Fusegawa Yorito.
It was a highly talked-about series during its manga serialization and exploded in popularity after being adapted into an anime.
The harem rom-com, filled with sweet and romantic moments with girls head over heels for the protagonist, was my only solace and source of joy during my hellish days as a corporate slave, so I remember it well.
With great artwork, an engaging story, and a stellar voice cast, I was deeply hooked on “Fusekoi” in my previous life.
The protagonist’s name is Fusegawa Raito, and the three girls’ characteristics perfectly match the heroines from “Fusekoi.” The scene I just witnessed was exactly from the early part of the series.
To think I could witness my favorite “Fusekoi” scenes in reality instead of through a screen. Transmigration is amazing—or so I’d like to celebrate, but my heart was anything but calm.
I watched the protagonist and the heroines’ interactions as I sat down at my seat—right in front of the teacher’s desk. Realizing my situation, I laid my head on the desk with a big sigh.
Recognizing this world as “Fusekoi” made me recall my identity in this world—Shindo Ryusuke.
(There's no mistake... Shindo Ryusuke. He's the ultra-villain in Fusekoi...)
He targets the protagonist, Fusegawa Yorito, causing him all sorts of trouble. But he's just a stepping stone for the protagonist's growth, repeatedly being beaten by him.
He doesn’t reflect or reform, eventually attempting revenge on the protagonist, only to have all his misdeeds exposed, leading to expulsion in the third semester, and even ending up in police custody, his future ruined.
(In the popularity polls, he was dead last… not a forgotten character, but genuinely despised and ranked the lowest…)
What a situation.
Even though I’ve transmigrated into my beloved “Fusekoi,” I’ve become the villain who meets a ruinous end.
Shindo Ryusuke's role is to endanger the heroines, only to be punished by the protagonist. By defeating this evil, the protagonist and heroines overcome obstacles and come together—he's just a device for the plot, a mere obstacle.
But that’s if I hadn’t transmigrated. Having been a diligent person in my previous life, I’ve now become the villain. Now that I'm here, there's no escape. I have to resolve myself.
I can do this. There's still a chance.
Even if I’ve walked a bad path until now, I'm still a first-year high school student.
It’s still the first semester. The punishment comes in the third semester, so there’s time to reform.
I also have the knowledge of the original story—the future events are known to me. By making full use of this knowledge, I should be able to avoid a disastrous end.
I’m in the world of my favorite rom-com, “Fusekoi.” It would be a waste not to enjoy it.
I’ll live this second life with no regrets and aim for a happy ending.
I clenched my fist firmly, solidifying my resolve.
